AOA Jimin's N-Word Scandal: Apology Done Right?

AOA’s Jimin recently came under fire for saying the N-word. Last week, she uploaded a cover of Nelly’s “Get Like Me” featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell Williams onto her Instagram, in which she was heard rapping the N-word. Controversy in the form of comments and shares quickly arose, with one fan even messaging Jimin directly on Instagram to tell the idol about her mistake in using this word. In response, she quickly apologised and deleted the the video.

Regarding Jimin’s apology, I am rather impressed with how prompt her response was. Not only did she recognise and acknowledge her mistake almost immediately after the comments came in, she also apologised personally instead of waiting for her company to do damage control. When responding to the fan’s message on Instagram, she apologised multiple times in English, perhaps in an attempt for international fans to understand her words. This makes her apology seem more genuine and less distant, which is to be appreciated.

However, I am a bit puzzled at Jimin’s supposed apology post via Instagram. She uploaded a photo of her phone playing Deul Guk-hwa’s “Until The Morning Brightens” with an emoji of two hands clasped together. While the emoji is most likely symbolic of her asking for forgiveness, the photo just makes me confused. Perhaps it’s because that I don’t understand the song and its meaning, but I just don’t get the link between the photo and Jimin’s apology.

There has been a mixed response to her video and following apology: some have been quick to excuse and defend her actions, attributing this mistake to her lack of knowledge since she was doing a cover and was merely following the lyrics of the song. There are even a few that have gone so far as to question why the use of the N-word is so inappropriate and offensive.

On the other hand, many others have been quick to criticise her actions. While I agree that criticism is necessary in this case — the N-word is an ethnic slur which is extremely offensive to black people — I also find that pointless insults to Jimin are exactly that — pointless. It’s not doing good to anyone by calling her ‘stupid’. Instead, we should focus on educating her and those who do not understand the why the N-word should not be used. It is only through understanding and learning from our mistakes that positive change can come about.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this sort of incident has occurred. Earlier this year in July, Bambam from Got7 was heard saying the N-word in passing. Of course, there are huge contextual differences between these two cases. Whereas Jimin’s case stems from her covering an American pop song, Bambam made this comment in passing to one of his acquaintances during an informal house party in Los Angeles. While Jimin intentionally uploaded the recording to her Instagram, Bambam was not aware that he was being recorded (which in no way excuses it either).

What they both have in common, however, is their prompt apology. Bambam immediately apologised on social media, taking full responsibility for his actions. He also received a temporary SNS ban, which shows that his company, JYPE, took his mistake extremely seriously (and rightfully so). In January, Seventeen found themselves in their first scandal for debated use/implication of the N-word, which sparked Seoulbeat’s own discussion on the word’s use in K-pop and K-hip hop.

Jimin is no stranger to facing criticism for her her socio-cultural remarks. In May of this year, right before their “Good Luck” comeback, she and Seolhyun were heavily bashed for their lack of knowledge on Korean history. On their variety show “Channel AOA”, the duo were challenged to identify important historical figures by their photos. When they came across Ahn Jung-Geun, a Korean independence activist who played a crucial role in fighting for Korean independence from Japanese occupation and who assassinated former Prime Minister and Resident-General of Japan Itō Hirobumi, they were unable to name the widely-known Korean figure. In fact, they gave several incorrect guesses, mistaking Ahn Jung-Geun to be Japanese, which only exacerbated the situation.

In comparison to their history scandal, this N-word one seems to have received less attention and criticism from the local Korean public. This may be due to several reasons: first, the use of the N-word may be relatively less relevant to the local Korean public than the Korean history scandal. Locals may have less of an understanding of the gravity and the offensiveness of the word, whereas they may resonate more with not knowing an important figure who fought for their country’s independence. Second, this type of scandal — the inappropriate use of the N-word — occurs more frequently, and so the public may be more complacent towards its use. It is unfortunate, but the use of the N-word comes up regularly on TV shows like Show Me the Money.

Although Jimin’s intentions were most likely harmless, since she was doing a cover of the song and perhaps did not understand the the gravity of the word and the problems of saying it, this does not and should not detract from the seriousness of her mistake. As an idol and thus a public figure, it is her responsibility to avoid using such culturally inappropriate and offensive terms, particularly in public videos that can be viewed and heard by all. Jimin could easily have muted that particularly word or have just not rapped the N-word at all. While her response to this controversy is, for the most part, appropriate and the right thing to do, I sincerely hope that she learns from this scandal and avoids making similar mistakes in the future.

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I am so sick of hearing about this. Like, at what point do idols look at each other and say “XXX got in trouble for this, let me not do the same exact thing?”
And there are going to be the “they didn’t mean it/they don’t understand” people, but how often in the past year, the past two or three or five years have we copy and pasted this exact ‘scandal’ with the same defenses on either side on various idols? Female, male, rookie, established….it just keeps going in this cycle of XXX saying the word, general outcry vs vehement defense, and then it fades into oblivion. You’ll get the diehard “let’s never buy an album from them again because I’m black and these idols won’t be educated on my history” people, but in a few weeks–especially with award season coming up–no one is going to remember this happening until the next time.

Jazzy1004

I feel like fans reaction to this always makes the situation worse. All the excuses for idols using it by fans needs to stop, and the ones who say they use it too really need to stop. Even in this instance I saw a lot of people saying stuff like “I’m glad aoa fans explained it nicely”. I’m sorry but people need to not police how fans respond to things that probably have nothing to do with them. Now I don’t agree with telling someone to kill themselves or death threats. But I also don’t think it’s wrong for fans to show they are angry because they are angry…besides I highly doubt most fans send out death threats but the minority of ppl who do always get used to derail the real issue which is that the idol should not have said the n-word. Now I understand what you mean about not calling Jimin stupid but that seems to be what people think of her more than fans trying to insult her. I’ve seen a lot of people saying that she probably wasn’t aware because she isn’t too bright, and they where not using it as an insult but as an excuse. Sort of like how a lot of igot7s excuse bambams mistake as being too young, marks friends, and the language barrier. It’s never their fault to some fans.

With that being said I wouldn’t give jyp that much credit for taking this seriously since they wouldn’t allow bambam to officially apologize. The SNS ban was to prevent further damage to got7s image cuz if they addressed the bambam incident they would have had to address what happened with Yugyeom too, and to stop the issue from spreading. Not because he was actually being punished for using the word.

Nation’s bitch face

I swear that seoulbeats always comes up with an article with the same content whenever a idol uses the n word…
Personally I’m proud of the fan who educated her, call out culture done right, so jimin understood her offence and apologised.
That’s it. We can move on.

I personally don’t see the harm in reminding everyone that it’s not OK to say the N word, as well as holding up Jimin’s apology as a positive example to others.

Nation’s bitch face

I mean maybe because it was in a song but I don’t see jimin’s use of the word ill intentioned so i don’t see the need to be documented tbh while in the article it does look like you are excusing bambam’s who would use the slur “in private”.

The section of the article you’re referring to was differentianting the circumstances surrounding Jimin and Bambam’s use of the N-word, and Margaret explicitly states that Bambam’s use of the word in private doesn’t excuse him:

“While Jimin intentionally uploaded the recording to her Instagram, Bambam was not aware that he was being recorded (which in no way excuses it either).”

If anything, the only point that I would argue with in the article is the idea that Jimin should be careful because she is a public figure. Not that it’s untrue, but I don’t think anyone, celebrity or not, should be using racial epithets.

No one can argue that Jimin’s use of the word was ill intentioned, her apology proves as much; the reclamation of the N word is a complicated matter, but as a non-black person I feel that the only rule that should apply to me is to not say the damn word at all.

People flip often flip gender pronouns when performing covers of songs, so I can’t see why the N word shouldn’t simply be substituted. I understand that this isn’t an idea that would automatically occur to everyone, but we can use instances like these as opportuities to discuss and learn what we can do to avoid hurting others.

taequila777

I understand your comment behind Jimin’s intention, however, why did she delete and apologize so quickly if she didn’t know better? I often think sometimes these “idols” forget that they are now international, and their behavior and words reach beyond the borders of Korea.

Nation’s bitch face

I think that those who deserve to be criticised are the ones who deliberately use the slur and those who have been reached and have apologised but will continue on using it.

Tiffer Nguyen

because maybe she really doesn’t want to offend anyone. Because she knows she’s a public figure and knows saying something offensive to an international crowd isn’t good. I think it was an honest mistake to rap along with the lyrics. but she just didn’t know what they meant. and someone came by and said she did something wrong so she apologizes immediately and takes it down because she just really doesn’t want to offend someone. I guess i don’t know what you’re trying to get at here

Jazzy1004

Same content cuz the same thing keeps happening.

“We can move on”- we as in “black people” who are the only ones affected by this not everyone.

Nation’s bitch face

“Move on from the topic.”
That people decide to let it go or not that’s different.

Jazzy1004

Not for you to decide.

Nation’s bitch face

As I said “people’s decision”.

Jazzy1004

I’m talking about “moving on from the topic” part. That’s also not up to you to decide as people can speak on whatever they want.

Cjontai

I think the main point here is that it’s okay and welcomed for idols to apologize when they’ve made a cultural mistake. A lot of times, international fans get overlooked in the cultural sensitivity area because people brush it off with “They apologized, get over it” instead of addressing what exactly was wrong in the first place. That’s why we keep bringing up as a reminder because the apathetic “get over it” response is partially to blame for why fans don’t take cultural issues seriously. (Note: I said “fans” because it’s rarely the idols who aren’t open to learning these things. Ironic, no?)

Nobody is dragging her; we’re applauding the fact that she quickly responded of her own accord without being prompted by her company because when the company gets involved, it usually results in zero response at all. This is actually different compared to the many times when the issue is completely ignored because the fans who aren’t affected step in to block those who want to reach out to idols and explain why what they said or did was inappropriate.

Nation’s bitch face

How many times has seoulbeats tried to reach the idols themselves and educate them on it?

Cjontai

I think you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. This article isn’t for the idols. It’s a commentary by fans for fans. We’re not trying to reach Jimin. We’re reaching out to Seoulbeats readers and explaining what happened. If this can help our readers understand the situation, then that’s a positive. Not sure why anyone would be against that.

Nation’s bitch face

I’m sorry but that is quite hypocrite of this site/you then.
You can’t preach to feel yourself morally superior but then do nothing to change what it’s so offending for you.

“A lot of times, international fans get overlooked in the cultural sensitivity area because people brush it off with “They apologized, get over it” instead of addressing what exactly was wrong in the first place.”
I’m just saying act accordingly to what you preach.
You can provide thousands of articles regarding this topic but won’t take matters into it and try to put at end to it by contacting the idol through dm/company whatever

Cjontai

So unless we’re willing to contact the companies ourselves to say “Excuse us, your idol did/said something offensive and we’d like to talk” then we’re not allowed to publish our opinions and express them to readers? Interesting perspective…

Nation’s bitch face

So this topic is worth to be written about, published and documented for clickd but it’s not worth enough to go out of your way and inform to the source/offender

Cjontai

Well you already said it earlier, as did the author, that Jimin got the message and understood it. Why beat a dead horse when she understands and learned? This isn’t about reaching Jimin when she’s already learned her lesson. We’re *highlighting* the positive actions of fans and Jimin’s equal positive reaction to them because it doesn’t happen often. I’ve repeated this, but you don’t seem to grasp what I’m saying, so we’ve clearly reached an impasse.

Nation’s bitch face

lmao it’s impossible discussing with you when you change the tune with every reply

Hm okey. I bit strange in my opnion. If the text is like that it is like that, can’t see why it would be such a big deal if the text is original made by a black person. But I guess bigger deal in US than in other countries.

I’m really glad Jimin apologised. Now all she has to do is not do it again.

Tiffer Nguyen

I’m not apart of the African American/Black community so I’m not gonna say everyone should be offended or everyone forgive her it’s no big deal. But the way I kinda interpret things is that if there’s a first offense (which is unfortunate and sucks that it happens), if the idol is quick to apologize and recognize they did wrong, i feel that’s the best the could do in that situation. At that point, there’s no excuse for them to do it again, because supposedly they should have known by now. I’ve been seeing it as, Jimin is South Korean Born and raised and i feel that its unreasonable to expect someone like her to know in great detail the history and detail of African American slavery and oppression. Maybe if she took a world history class she might have been taught that the North American Slave trade was a thing, and that discrimination towards African Americans has been in American history. However, she might not have been taught the details, like how the slave owners bought and sold slaves, how they treated them (like specifics), and the names they were called. I just think that there’s probably tons of South korean historical moments that marked extreme seriousness and darkness in their history, but we don’t know the specifics because we aren’t born, raised, or educated there. Tons of Americans don’t even know that J*p is a racial slur, and that derived from like WWII era in the States! Clearly what she did was a mistake. But I feel given what she did and her cultural background people should be more focused on hoping she’s learned now rather than trashing her for the mistake she made. And yes, many idols before her have gotten in trouble for a similar mistake, but I tend to find only the International fandom really finding out or caring about these things, and it rarely makes waves in Korea, so I could totally see her just not knowing a thing about any of this.

summerlady

i couldnt agree more. truth to be told, before i discovered the existence of seoulbeats in 2011 (i was 12 back then) i had no idea about this african american slavery thing. i didnt know why it was so offensive so i looked it up. i was fortunate to have come across seoulbeats- but many of my friends, born and raised asian, are still ignorant about this issue especially those who come from rural places.

Emily Kim

Think about in context. She was singing a cover of a song that involved the word, cut her some slack. It’s not as if she was personally calling someone that, also think of her prompt personal apology. Also, people don’t ask for an apology or get so upset at a noncelebrity American or American celebrities. She’s a foreign celebrity so she’s put on the spotlight and if she makes one tiny mistake, people blow up over it, so cut her some slack please